ABC Action News
Florida inmates charged for prison cells long after incarceration
- Title
- Florida inmates charged for prison cells long after incarceration
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- It's a common saying: You do the crime, you do the time. But when people are released from prison, freedom is fragmented. It marks the start of new hardships, impacting families and communities. Part of that is due to a Florida law many people are unaware of, further punishing second-chance citizens, preventing them from truly moving on. It's called "pay-to-stay", charging inmates for their prison stay, like a hotel they were forced to book. Florida law says that cost, $50 a day, is based on the person's sentence. Even if they are released early, paying for a cell they no longer occupy, and regardless of their ability to pay.
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- Local rescue returns cat to Missouri after owner loses pet during Florida vacation
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Benson, the cat, is finally on his way back home. His owner, Cherly, brought him with her while visiting friends in Dover in January. But Benson slipped his leash while on a walk. Cherly searched for him for two months, but she had to return home to Missouri without Benson. And as you can imagine, she was heartbroken.
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- Florida school board member wants to formalize teacher exit interviews
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- A recent I-team investigation is now prompting one Florida school board member to speak up and act. During a Sarasota County school board meeting Tuesday evening, member Tom Edwards asked for the district to begin conducting exit interviews with teachers who leave the district. Edwards told us he was inspired after seeing our investigation last week where we obtained hundreds of teacher exit surveys from other districts to reveal the “brutal” truth behind why so many Florida teachers keep leaving.
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- Florida rapper Rod Wave wrongfully arrested as police raid homes during investigation
- Date posted
- 19 days ago
- Description
- Rod Wave, a rapper from St. Petersburg, was wrongfully arrested by the Manatee County Sheriff’s Office, a spokesperson confirms. According to records previously visible online, the rapper — whose legal name is Rodarius Green — was arrested Wednesday morning and charged with “Possession of Ammunition by a Convicted Felon.” However, Rod Wave’s legal team immediately labeled the arrest as incorrect.
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- Backers of Florida’s recreational weed amendment ready to fight ‘misinformation'
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- The battle to get recreational marijuana on the November ballot is over. It’s happening. But the fight to get it is just beginning. And with opposition from some of the state's most powerful politicians, it won’t likely be easy.
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- Experts Discuss Potential Impact of Recreational Weed Legalization
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- The battle to get recreational marijuana on the November ballot is over.
It’s happening.
But the fight to get it is just beginning. And with opposition from some of the state's most powerful politicians, it won’t likely be easy.
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- VIDEO: Easter shooting in Florida injured 4 people. #abcactionnews #florida #news
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- A shooting in Florida injured 4 people, and 3 people have been arrested.
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-pinellas/3-arrested-for-involvement-in-easter-shooting-that-left-4-injured
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- Breast cancer diagnosis for younger women leading to big medical debt
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- On Tuesday, Brittany McArthur snapped a picture in a hospital gown, still smiling despite the fact she was about to undergo a double mastectomy. In January, at just 30 years old, she was diagnosed with breast cancer. "It's not something I ever imagined to be facing this early in life," McArthur said, turning 31 in March.
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- Florida woman owes over $100K for prison time not served #abcactionnews #florida #news
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
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- 70-year-old says his home was damaged by gunman who was shot, captured by police
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri believes a St. Petersburg officer was justified when he shot and wounded a fleeing suspect Saturday night. According to the sheriff, St. Pete officers responded to the area of Shady Side Meat and Grocery for reports of shots fired around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. They ultimately discovered that 28-year-old Germaine Small, who was armed with a handgun with a 50-round drum magazine, fired a shot at a gray Honda Accord just out of view of a surveillance camera.
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- Tampa working to address housing crisis through several programs
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- When it comes to addressing Tampa's housing crisis, Councilwoman Lynn Hurtak told ABC Action News that a "one-size-fits-all" approach simply won't work. "We're basically willing to try pretty much everything because that's the way we reach everyone," she said. In February, the council held a workshop that was focused on figuring out what should be done to fix the problem. And the public didn't hold back their opinions.
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- 1 person dead after Ultralight aircraft crashes in Mulberry, Florida
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- One person died after an experimental amateur-built (EAB) aircraft crashed in Mulberry late Tuesday morning, the Polk County Sheriff's Office said. The call came in around 10:40 a.m. Monday of an aircraft down at South Lakeland Airstrip, 4868 Southwind Drive, in Mulberry. The FAA confirmed it was a single-engine Merlin Lite that crashed. The aircraft can seat one person.
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- Florida voters will decide if marijuana is legalized in the state
- Date posted
- 20 days ago
- Description
- Medical marijuana is already legal in Florida. If enough voters say yes come election day, anyone 21 and up can walk into those dispensaries and purchase up to three ounces of marijuana. On April 1st, the Florida Supreme Court gave the go-ahead to put legalizing marijuana on the November ballot. Florida would become the 25th state to legalize marijuana.
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- A Michigan police officer saves life of a child that was not breathing.
- Date posted
- 21 days ago
- Description
- A Michigan officer responded to a home store for a child who was not breathing. Body camera video of the efforts to save the child.
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- Sheriff's Office searching for Easter egg thief caught on video
- Date posted
- 21 days ago
- Description
- Video from a Ring doorbell at a home in Holiday shows a woman going on her very own Easter egg hunt. According to the homeowner, she was stealing plastic eggs from their front porch on Victoria Lane. The incident happened at 5:45 a.m. on Easter Sunday.
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- 35-year-old warns about symptoms of rectal cancer after diagnosis
- Date posted
- 21 days ago
- Description
- A Tampa man is warning others about the symptoms of rectal cancer after his diagnosis at the age of 35. Alex Mojica said he brushed off symptoms until he could no longer ignore the pain. He drove himself to the emergency room after experiencing abdominal pain.
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- Girl Scout uses years of training to save a life during rafting trip
- Date posted
- 21 days ago
- Description
- Girl Scouts are known for their cookies, but they also need to be recognized for their survival skills. This past summer, 17-year-old scout Elizabeth Fiore put those skills to the ultimate test, saving a little boy’s life. Fiore will never look at a river quite the same, following her Girl Scout rafting trip through the Grand Canyon. “This kind of put her outside of her comfort zone because she does not like water. This was the first time she was ever away from home, away from her parents, so it was a whole new experience all around,” said scout leader Stefanie Glover.
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- Abortion to be banned in Florida at 6 weeks after Florida Supreme Court decision
- Date posted
- 21 days ago
- Description
- The Florida Supreme Court upheld the state's 15-week abortion ban in a ruling handed down simultaneously with the clearing of an abortion amendment for the 2024 election. With the 15-week ban approved, a trigger law from the state will ban abortions at six weeks starting one month from Monday's decision. The six-week ban passed in the 2023 legislative session was written so that it would not take effect until a month after the 2022 law was upheld. In the case Planned Parenthood of Southwest and Central Florida vs. the State of Florida, Planned Parenthood had won a temporary injunction at a lower court level preventing the law from going into effect.
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- Girl Scout uses survival skills to save child
- Date posted
- 22 days ago
- Description
- Seventeen-year-old Elizabeth Fiore went on a rafting trip as a Girl Scout and came home a life-saving hero. Elizabeth’s troop was rafting at the Grand Canyon when they noticed a young boy struggling in the water in severe need of help. Elizabeth grabbed a lifebuoy and saved the boy.
https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/region-hillsborough/girl-scout-uses-years-of-training-to-save-a-life-during-rafting-trip
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- Officials expect tax scams to increase as April 15 deadline approaches
- Date posted
- 22 days ago
- Description
- The deadline to file taxes is April 15.
“Government imposters are out there trying to get your personal or financial information every day,” said Eric Olsen with Hillsborough Consumer Protection Services.
Officials expect tax scams to increase as the deadline to file nears.
“You have to be suspicious when it comes in over email, especially text, telephone calls or social media,” said Olsen.
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- Overfed alligator living in retention pond finds new home
- Date posted
- 22 days ago
- Description
- A 9-foot alligator nicknamed Coca-Cola has a new home after neighbors became worried about the gator and its safety. Locals named him "Coca-Cola" because he lived in a retention pond behind a Coca-Cola plant for years. The pond is located near North 56th Street and East Fowler Avenue in Tampa.
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- Family gets closure after man sentenced in shooting death of Tampa nursing student.
- Date posted
- 22 days ago
- Description
- The family of a nursing student who was shot and killed while driving near Julian B. Lane Park in 2021 is finally getting some closure. “I still talk to my daughter every day as if she was still here because I refuse to talk to her in past tense,” said LaMaria Smith. Smith’s daughter, 21-year-old Savannah Mathis, was shot and killed while driving near Julian B. Lane Park in December 2021. She was a thriving nursing student whose life was cut short.
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- New study finds growing number of Americans identify as religiously unaffiliated
- Date posted
- 22 days ago
- Description
- “Being a Christian, I know that God is the head of my life. I believe that whatever I'm going through, God will be here with me,” said Goode. Several Winter Haven pastors came together to hold the joint service, including Rev. Clifton Dollison. He has led First Missionary Baptist Church for more than three decades and said his congregation is growing. “We’re one of the fastest growing cities in the country right now, so we’re actually experiencing that even at our church. So, we’re seeing people come from all over the country,” said Dollison.
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- Damaged by Idalia, popular beach park finally reopens in Hernando County
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- For Gia Marino and her three year old son, Hunter, it’s great to be back at the place they love: Pine Island Park. “It was such a surprise,” Marino said. “We wanted to come.” Thursday, the beloved beach park reopened in Hernando County. The park isn’t just home to a playground and restaurant, it’s also home to the county’s only public beach.
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- School bus driver turns despair into hope for her family
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- In Dec. 2021, Tangela Butler needed somewhere to go. ABC Action News was with her as she packed her belongings and prepared to move to an apartment she could barely afford. Flash forward to today, and her fortune and future are brighter. "I remember that day, and I remember feeling defeated; I remember feeling hopeless," Butler said. If a friend had not told Butler to fill out an application for Habitat for Humanity of Pinellas and West Pasco Counties, she very well could still be bouncing from apartment to apartment.
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- Meeting set to brainstorm solutions to Citrus County neighborhood’s mess
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- A meeting scheduled for next month could help blaze a trail toward relief for homeowners in Inverness Village 4 in Citrus County. The sprawling neighborhood’s streets are unpaved and, at times, almost impassable. “We’re beyond frustrated. We’re getting to the very angry stage, and all the while, our properties are in jeopardy of eroding away,” said Janeen Eddie, a homeowner in the neighborhood.
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- St. Petersburg officer-involved shooting under investigation
- Date posted
- 23 days ago
- Description
- An officer-involved shooting in St. Petersburg is now under investigation. According to a press release, officers responded to the area of Shadyside Food Mart for reports of shots fired around 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. About five minutes later, a 911 call revealed that someone had shot into a home in the 1600 block of 40th Avenue S. The shooter was identified as Germane Small, 28. Small was seen running south and then east to the area of 1711 40th Street S. Officers chased Small on foot. That's when detectives say Small turned and fired at an officer, but missed and fired again. An officer returned fire, hitting Small in the face.
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- ZooTampa welcomes endangered Tapir calf
- Date posted
- 24 days ago
- Description
- ZooTampa at Lowry Park announced the birth of an endangered Malayan tapir calf Friday morning, the zoo's first spring baby of 2024. The zoo said the calf, which hasn't been named yet, was born overnight between Monday and Tuesday after a 13-month gestation period. The calf and its mom, Ubi, are both healthy.
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- Floridians continue to wait and wonder if abortion protections will be on November ballot
- Date posted
- 25 days ago
- Description
- April 1st looms as the potential day of reckoning for abortion protections in Florida. The state Supreme Court is weighing the decision to include it on the November ballot. Despite widespread anticipation, the justices remained silent on Thursday morning, issuing only a short statement: "No Florida Supreme Court opinions ready for release today…" With a long weekend ahead, the resolution of this contentious initiative is now expected no sooner than Monday, which is the court's deadline.
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- Report shows gun use among teenagers is on the rise
- Date posted
- 25 days ago
- Description
- Gun use among children is on the rise both nationally and in the Tampa Bay area. A recent report from Everytown shows children unintentionally shot and killed 157 people and injured 270 last year. According to Safe and Sound Hillsborough, in 2022, 201 kids were arrested on firearm charges. In 2023, that number jumped up to 221. This year, we are off to a bad start, with 74 children already dealing with firearm charges.
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- Family recipe from India leads to family business in Tampa Bay
- Date posted
- 25 days ago
- Description
- More than 50 years ago, Bindu Grandhi’s parents created their own hot sauce recipes in their native country of India. Now, Grandhi is turning those recipes into a family business right here in Tampa Bay. “Both my mom and dad grew up in Bangalore, India, and as you know, India is known for its cuisine, its spicy foods, and its use of herbs and spices, so my mom is just a natural cook, as is my dad,” said Grandhi. Grandhi’s family immigrated to America by way of the United Kingdom when she was just three years old, and the family recipes followed.
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- Employees of Florida construction company say they didn't get paid
- Date posted
- 25 days ago
- Description
- In January, the I-Team introduced you to customers of GLK Construction Company who contacted us after they endured months of delays, failed inspections and requests for payment ahead of schedule. Now, we’re hearing from employees who say they didn't get paid, and we're uncovering other evidence about the company’s financial issues.
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- Lightning open three-game homestand tonight vs. Boston
- Date posted
- 26 days ago
- Description
- The Tampa Bay Lightning open a three-game homestand tonight against the first-place Boston Bruins. Bolts are 6-0-1 since acquiring Anthony Duclair and Matt Dumba at the trade deadline. Tampa Bay is 2-1-0 vs. Boston this season and 1-0-0 on home ice. Lightning hold the top wild-card spot with 11 games left in the regular season.
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- Hear what Rays fans have to say about Opening Day
- Date posted
- 26 days ago
- Description
- The Blue Jays will trot out Jose Berrios, who is making his fourth career start on Opening Day. Berrios' last start on Opening Day two years ago only lasted 0.1 innings as he surrendered four runs on three hits with a pair of walks and a hit batter.
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- Florida teachers share 'brutal' truth behind why so many keep leaving
- Date posted
- 26 days ago
- Description
- Newly obtained teacher exit interviews revealed what’s driving Florida teachers out of the classroom, and Investigative reporter Katie LaGrone found it’s not just money.
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- Report highlights 3 reasons our mental health is declining globally
- Date posted
- 26 days ago
- Description
- Sapien Labs founder and chief scientist Dr. Tara Thiagarajan just released their 2023 Mental State of the World Report. Over 500,000 respondents were surveyed, including 71 countries in 13 different languages. The report indicates the dramatic decline in mental well-being during and after the Pandemic continues to persist around the globe with no signs of recovery.
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- Florida teachers share why they left teaching #abcactionnews #florida #news #teaching
- Date posted
- 26 days ago
- Description
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- Suspect arrested after hitting, killing 18-year-old with sedan then driving off
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- A Florida man that Florida Highway Patrol officers said hit and killed a teenager Wednesday morning has been arrested. According to FHP, the driver, Edgardo Joel Rosado Perez, 41, had dropped his daughter off at school and then was involved in a minor crash. FHP said Perez then drove off at a high rate of speed in a 2018 Hyundai sedan. Trooper said while fleeing the scene, Perez hit 18-year-old Bartow High School student Zachariah Clabough, who was walking to school. FHP said Perez drove off after hitting the teen as well.
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- Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis signs law squashing squatters' rights
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- Squatters beware. Florida's latest law makes it easier to remove those illegally staying on private property. Gov. Ron DeSantis signed HB 621 into law Wednesday, eliminating squatters' rights in the state. "We are putting an end to the squatters scam in Florida," DeSantis said. "While other states are siding with the squatters, we are protecting property owners and punishing criminals looking to game the system."
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- Rays close out spring training with final workout
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- The Rays held their final spring training workout Wednesday at Tropicana Field. Tampa Bay has sold out 18 straight home openers (not including the 2020 season). Orlando-native Zach Eflin will get the opening day start for the Rays. Eflin grew up a Rays fan.
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- Progressive drops home insurance customers in Florida #abcactionnews #florida #news #insurance
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
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- Facial recognition cameras in Florida city spark privacy concerns
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- New security cameras in downtown Lakeland are raising concerns about privacy. The Lakeland Downtown Development Authority has begun installing 13 new security cameras on streets, sidewalks, and alleyways, and there are mixed feelings about them. "I’m really happy that the cameras are here. It gives us eyes to see what's going on,” said Nikki Hunt, owner of Scout and Tag.
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- Rays' prospect Xavier Isaac proving doubters wrong
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- Just as Xavier Isaac leaves his mark on a baseball, baseball has left a mark on him. “My whole arm goes all the way up,” Issac said as he shows off his tattoos. “I have Manny Ramirez on my shoulder, I have Babe Ruth on my shoulder.” This 20-year-old first baseman was somewhat of a surprising first-round pick when the Tampa Bay Rays took him 29th overall in the 2022 MLB Draft.
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- Baltimore bridge collapse recalls Florida tragedy in Tampa
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
- The collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore brought back memories of what happened in 1980 when a ship collided with the Sunshine Skyway Bridge in Tampa
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- ACLU investigates facial recognition cams in Lakeland #abcactionnews #florida #news
- Date posted
- 27 days ago
- Description
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- 2nd large brushfire breaks out at Florida plant
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- A second fire broke out at the Mosaic phosphate plant in Riverview on Tuesday after the first fire was put out only a day before. The Hillsborough County Fire Rescue said they arrived at the plant at 8813 US Highway 41 in Riverview around 10:36 a.m. According to officials, the extreme heat of yesterday's fire, coupled with the wind conditions, caused a brush fire to break out at the same location. They added that one of the polyethylene pipes is involved, but it doesn't threaten any structures. Crews have extinguished the fires but are still working to put out hotspots.
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- Bridge engineer explains how future collapses can be avoided #abcactionnews #news #baltimore
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
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- Progressive Insurance begins dropping Florida home insurance policies
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- It was a sinking feeling the moment Bradenton resident Ira Kasdan got the letter last month that he was being dropped by Progressive Insurance. "Dear Policyholder, your policy will expire at 12:01 on July 1st , 2024, for the following reasons. After careful consideration we are unable to offer you a renewal policy due to a reduction in our hurricane exposure. Please contact your agent to find replacement coverage," the letter read. Last fall Progressive confirmed to ABC Action News that they will not renew policies in Florida beginning in May of 2024 to "rebalance our exposure" they told us in a statement. "I was shocked, I was stunned," Kasdan said. "There may be a time where as much as we love Florida we may not be able to stay here."
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- Florida man brings food and music to homeless camps #abcactionnews #florida #news #homeless
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
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- Tons of junk dumped in unpermitted Florida landfill
- Date posted
- 28 days ago
- Description
- An unpermitted commercial dump in Hillsborough County has grown into a three-story mound, despite multiple warnings from state and local agencies. The ABC Action News I-Team has learned that the owner of the company operating the facility has a history of environmental violations. Acting on a tip in January, we staked out the site and captured a steady stream of trucks entering what was once a vacant lot. A mountain of waste composed mostly of construction and demolition, called “C & D” materials, towered above the trees.